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Federal Reshuffle of the U.S. Department of Education: What Happens When Core Functions Are Scattered
When the U.S. Department of Education (ED) quietly signed six interagency agreements on Nov 18, transferring major functions to agencies including the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of State (State), the move didn’t come with a congressional vote. Nor did it come with a stakeholder comment period, public hearings, or...
Read MoreNew Poll Shows Houston ISD Voters Don’t Have Faith in Miles, State’s Management
Earlier this month, Houston ISD’s state-installed Board of Managers approved putting a $4.4 billion bond, the largest in state history, before voters this November. HISD leadership, all appointed as part of the Texas Education Agency’s takeover of the district, says the bond will be used to fund campus rebuilds, fix...
Read MoreWhere to Find Texas AFT at The Texas Tribune Festival
Texas AFT is a proud sponsor of this year’s Texas Tribune Festival, Texas’ breakout politics and policy event happening live and in person in the heart of downtown Austin. At TribFest, Sept. 5-7, you’ll hear from leaders, innovators and lawmakers who’ll give you an inside look at where we are...
Read MoreElection 2024 Spotlight: Lauren Ashley Simmons Offers a Hopeful Vision for the Future in HD 146
After the bruising battles of last year’s voucher-focused Legislature and amid an equally unsettling back-to-school season in Texas, we know how critical this November’s election is.
Read MoreAug. 23, 2024: We know who’s to blame
Friday, August 23, 2024 We know who’s to blame Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to crow this week about the Texas economy, now the eighth largest in the entire world. On social media, he called the state the “economic envy” of the world. That’s nice, governor. But perhaps you...
Read MoreEducators at the Democratic National Convention: Is hope making a comeback?
After years of listening to Gov. Greg Abbott and former President Donald Trump paint Texas and America as a wasteland devoid of hope —a state and country that had already achieved the best we could ever accomplish — the Democratic National Convention this week offered a distinct vibe shift.
Read MoreParents of Santa Fe School Shooter Found Not Negligent in Civil Trial
On Aug. 19, following a three-week civil trial, the parents of the accused shooter in the 2018 school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, were found not financially liable for the deaths of 10 people, including eight students and two teachers. The lawsuit alleged the parents,...
Read MoreElection 2024 Spotlight: Winning Back an Anti-Voucher Vote in HD 112
After the bruising battles of last year’s voucher-focused Legislature and amid an equally unsettling back-to-school season in Texas, we know how critical this November’s election is.
Read MoreThe Texas Tribune has big things planned for you at TribFest
Texas AFT is a proud sponsor of this year’s Texas Tribune Festival, Texas’ breakout politics and policy event happening live and in person in the heart of downtown Austin. At TribFest, Sept. 5-7, you’ll hear from leaders, innovators and lawmakers who’ll give you an inside look at where we are...
Read MoreACLU Launches Student Rights Hub Amid Rising Discriminatory Policies in Texas Schools
Image Credit: ACLU Texas As Texas students return to classrooms, they face an education system increasingly shaped by discriminatory policies. From punitive dress codes that violate the state's CROWN Act to gender identity policies that out students to their parents without their consent, these measures are more than just rules...
Read MoreWe May Have Setbacks in Texas, But We Can Fight Charter Schools Federally
As the State Board of Education continues to approve new charter schools and the Texas Legislature abdicates its responsibility to fully fund a free public education, national Democrats are taking action to hold charter schools accountable. Last month, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member on the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and...
Read MoreAug. 16, 2024: Welcome Back
Friday, August 16, 2024 McAllen AFT, Southwest Dallas AFT, San Antonio Alliance, Cy-Fair AFT, and many other local unions attended the various district back-to-school events for employees this month. Welcome back, educators! It's that magical time of year again! Across Texas, educators and school employees are heading back to school,...
Read MoreHouse Public Education Committee Hears Interim Charges
Legislative “Interim Charges”: What Are They and Why Do They Matter? The Texas Legislature meets once every two years for 140 days for its regular legislative session, during which the only bill it is required to pass and send to the governor’s desk to be signed into law is the...
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